On April 3, ArmMono international theatre festival was opened with Werther one man show, performed by German actor Philipp Hochmair.

The Werther Effect is a term used to describe the phenomenon that behaviours, whether self-preservative or destructive, are copied between humans by ideas manifested in language. Named after the protagonist in The Sorrows of Young Werther, this observation is closely associated with “contagious human behaviours”, including multiple personality disorder, pathological homesickness and suicide.

On scene, the actor enters into a role of young Werther, trying to copy his actions, which later drives him to suicide.

The actor performed his role wearing a T-Shirt that says “Armenia.” “I always strive to take up a part of the culture of the country I perform in,” he said.

Though performed in German, the one man show won the acclaim of the Armenian audience.

The actor explained his choice of a show by a wish to express the sufferings of a man, believing the theme to be the most neglected in theater art.

The actor plans another visit to Armenia in the autumn of 2011. Hochmair is currently negotiating with the German Ambassador as to the possibility of several additional performances in Armenia.